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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Do you go out everyday?

81 replies

incognito1991 · Yesterday 20:32

I Have a 2 year old and work only two days per week. The rest of the days I just can’t seem to stay home, when DH is off we will stay in one day and I will do deep cleans, besides that I can’t sit home all day. I will take DD to playgroups/park usually have a look in a shop or supermarket, go to see my family etc. Many times I tell myself I will stay home tomorrow and always find an excuse to go out. I feel I’m wasting money unnecessarily due to this, is anyone else like this or is it just me?

OP posts:
Sprogonthetyne · Yesterday 20:41

I go out most days, with kids, and especially toddlers it's easier. The key is to find free places to go, like library, free museums and parks, or invest in passes to a local attraction, which might work out quite cost effective if there's somewhere under 3's don't pay.

In the days we do stay home, there needs to be at lest some structured activities, so if you end up buying craft supplies or baking ingredients, it often costs as much as a cheap outing.

TheChosenTwo · Yesterday 20:45

I do, always have done, when I had small kids and even now they’ve all grown up.
I hate staying in all day, feel claustrophobic and like I’m wasting my life 😂
Weekends I will either go for lunch with a friend or my sister or dh and whichever of the dc are around, or just have a nice walk solo or with company. I also start each weekend day with either a wild swim or reformer Pilates class. During the week I prioritise getting out on the days I wfh, either gym or walk at lunchtime or swim after work. Will see my mum or mil sometimes too. I just like being busy but happy to be busy on my own, I don’t require company!
I think it’s good to get out.

Denim4ever · Yesterday 20:47

It's normal to go out for at least a walk. I wfh part if the week but always try to go for a walk as often as I can

Caravanholiday · Yesterday 20:47

Yes. I hate staying in the house all day and I have a dog which makes me go out at least once a day. I only stay in all day if I'm ill

ImpatientlyWaitingForSummer · Yesterday 20:48

Oh god yes I wouldn’t survive otherwise 😂 I’m still on mat leave with a one and a two year old and I get out with them everyday, sometimes multiple times! I will take them to soft play, trampoline places and toddler baby cafes etc but often it will be to the park, to the stream to look at the ducks or for a walk to look for specific coloured cars, emergency vehicles etc which my little boy loves. I try and do one morning and one afternoon trip outside which luckily the weather has been amazing for lately. At the weekends when my partner isn’t working we take them out on a Saturday and Sunday as well

Ifailed · Yesterday 20:49

I go out everyday, I live alone if I didn't I would get to talk to anyone

Galoe · Yesterday 20:54

Yes I like to go out at least once a day. My dcs are school aged so I need to do the school run as a minimum, then I normally have work or errands or something sociable. At weekends we like to go out as a family.

When my dc was that age we would always do one or two activities like a toddler class or music session, and a playground or library. I usually had those booked per term but I didn't need to spend any more money just because we were out. We packed food to go out with us and wouldn't go to shops unless I needed something specific. There are plenty of places to take small dcs which are free.

practicalmagic2 · Yesterday 20:56

I go out everyday for a walk if nothing else. I can’t just stay inside all day, I only do this rarely if I’m feeling unwell or the weather is really crap.

CheeseWisely · Yesterday 20:58

I also have a 2 year old and I could probably count the days of his life that we haven’t gone out at least for a walk on 2 hands. He’s in nursery 3 days a week and the other days we are ALWAYS out at least once, usually twice, either side of his nap. In the summer we’ve been going to parks, beaches and the local splash park (free), a wander in town (free if we don’t buy anything!), outdoor toddler groups run by the local authority (free), a couple of local attractions we have cheap memberships for, and a couple of regular groups that are more expensive but worth it.

Namechangewegovyjune26 · Yesterday 20:59

Yes I will go out most days and have always been like that. I can’t sit in all day. I also travel for work so I don’t mind going to do things myself. Plus taking the kids out stops them messing the house up like the days we do stay in 😅 I know someone who is agoraphobic and no independence at all, it’s made me even more determined. I think the less you go out the more some people get anxious about it.

SilenceInside · Yesterday 20:59

When I had small children I would go out of the house every day if I possibly could. Either to organised activities, or to playgroups or just to the park for a potter around. You don’t need to spend money though, if you plan for it and take food with you and decide in advance you aren’t going to spend anything on bits and pieces.

DoAWheelie · Yesterday 20:59

I go out once on Sundays most weeks. Rarely outside of that.

Thepeopleversuswork · Yesterday 21:01

Yes I have to go out every day unless it’s freakishly awful weather or I’m ill. I would go bonkers if I didn’t: feel really claustrophobic and bored.

Why would you feel bad about that? Its normal and healthy to go out each day.

Abracadabra12345 · Yesterday 21:03

When my kids were small we went out every single day otherwise the days are very long and become quite tedious plus it’s good for our mental and physical health. By doing what you do, your child is learning all about the world around them as well as the early stages of socialising (with adults, not just other children)

Don't try to stay in!

Boreded · Yesterday 21:03

I don’t even leave the house every week

Fakeplasticchimneyswhy · Yesterday 21:05

Do you have a garden, OP? I find that keeps me busy while staying at home.

You mention feeling that you’re wasting money by going out, but going to the park/ going for a walk / visiting family if they live nearby are usually free or very cheap, so what is the issue?

Thepeopleversuswork · Yesterday 21:05

Boreded · Yesterday 21:03

I don’t even leave the house every week

Is that due to ill health? Or just a preference?

lemmein · Yesterday 21:05

I don’t - I wfh which is probably quite bad for me cos I don’t have to go out, ever - which I enjoy tbh!

When my kids were small I went out as often as possible though - staying in all day with kids is hard-work!

XenoBitch · Yesterday 21:07

I try to. I do not work due to MH and my social circle is a dot.... but I try and get out every day. Getting milk in a local shop, or just a walk around my local park.
It makes me get dressed etc, and I do like meeting any dogs in the park.

Aaloyisha · Yesterday 21:08

Literally ever day. Do you think it’s a good thing to stay home? I find that a bit odd.

Growlybear83 · Yesterday 21:10

I go out most days now when I’m not working. When my daughter was young we used to go out somewhere probably three times a week, and we spent the other days playing with her toys on the floor, reading, and drawing/painting

Tuncro · Yesterday 21:10

I always went to bed with a plan for the next day when my children were small. I would have gone completely insane if we were not out every day ! Meeting friends,toddler groups,park,grandmas etc .
I still do go out every day on my days off ,socialising,dog walking,shopping but not an early bird nowadays so anytime after about 10am .

Thiscantgoonlikethis · Yesterday 21:14

I haaaattteeee staying in. It makes me feel sick. I would have to go for a walk or to the park.

bananaapplepears · Yesterday 21:15

I don't go out every day but I don't have young children and I WFH some days. I love being at home and prefer it to going out.

Thepeopleversuswork · Yesterday 21:17

Thiscantgoonlikethis · Yesterday 21:14

I haaaattteeee staying in. It makes me feel sick. I would have to go for a walk or to the park.

Same. Staying at home day after day would make me feel physically unwell. I can’t relate to people choosing to live like this.